PM-KISAN Releases Over ₹18,690 Crore to 9.34 Crore Farmers as Total Assistance Crosses ₹4.64 Lakh Crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on 30 October 2026, transferring more than ₹18,690 crore directly into the bank accounts of approximately 9.34 crore farmers across India. The nationwide disbursement was announced during a programme held in Banaskantha, Gujarat, marking another phase of financial assistance under the government’s flagship farmer income support programme.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, cumulative financial assistance provided under PM-KISAN has now exceeded ₹4.64 lakh crore through 24 instalments since the scheme’s introduction in 2019.

The latest instalment was distributed through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, which enables financial assistance to reach eligible beneficiaries through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts without intermediaries.

The government has also approved the continuation of PM-KISAN until the financial year 2030–31, with an allocation of ₹3.15 lakh crore over five years beginning in 2026–27. The decision establishes a longer-term framework for providing income support to eligible farming households.

Over 9.34 Crore Farmers Receive Direct Financial Assistance

The 24th instalment of PM-KISAN provides ₹2,000 to each eligible farmer family as part of the scheme’s annual financial assistance of ₹6,000.

The programme distributes this support in three equal instalments during the year, providing farmers with periodic financial assistance to meet agricultural and household requirements.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare confirmed that more than 9.34 crore farmers were covered under the latest disbursement, with approximately ₹18,690 crore transferred directly into their accounts.

The financial assistance is intended to help farming households purchase agricultural inputs, meet seasonal expenses and maintain continuity in cultivation activities.

Agricultural production often requires farmers to make investments in seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, machinery and other inputs before receiving income from their crops.

Periodic financial support can help eligible households manage some of these expenses, particularly during periods of seasonal expenditure.

The government stated that the programme is intended to strengthen income security and reduce farmers’ dependence on informal sources of credit.

Cumulative PM-KISAN Disbursements Exceed ₹4.64 Lakh Crore

With the release of the 24th instalment, total financial assistance distributed under PM-KISAN has crossed ₹4.64 lakh crore.

The programme was introduced on 24 February 2019 to provide direct income support to eligible landholding farmer families across India.

Unlike agricultural assistance programmes linked to specific crops or input purchases, PM-KISAN provides a fixed amount of financial support to eligible beneficiaries.

The assistance is transferred into registered bank accounts, allowing beneficiaries to decide how to use the funds according to their agricultural and household requirements.

The government reported that more than ₹4.47 lakh crore had already been distributed through the first 23 instalments.

The latest transfer adds to this cumulative expenditure, reflecting the scale of the programme’s nationwide implementation.

The scheme has developed into one of India’s largest direct financial assistance initiatives, involving crores of beneficiaries and recurring transfers through the country’s digital payment infrastructure.

Government Approves PM-KISAN Continuation Until 2030–31

An important development associated with the latest instalment is the government’s decision to continue PM-KISAN for another five financial years.

In July 2026, the Union Cabinet approved continuation of the programme from 2026–27 to 2030–31, with a total financial outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore.

The decision provides a framework for continued financial assistance to eligible farmer families during the approved period.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the extension is intended to strengthen farmers’ financial security and support agricultural activities.

The Union Budget for 2026–27 has allocated ₹60,000 crore for PM-KISAN.

The approved continuation also indicates that the programme will remain part of the government’s agricultural welfare framework over the coming years.

However, the continuation of the scheme does not change the currently announced annual assistance of ₹6,000 per eligible farmer family.

Aadhaar-Linked Payments and Digital Verification Support Delivery

The PM-KISAN programme relies on digital verification and bank account integration to identify eligible beneficiaries and distribute financial assistance.

Farmers must have their land records linked with the PM-KISAN portal and complete the prescribed verification requirements.

Aadhaar-linked bank accounts and electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification are important components of the system.

These procedures are intended to verify beneficiary identities, prevent duplicate payments and improve the accuracy of financial transfers.

The Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism allows the government to transfer funds to eligible farmers without routing payments through intermediary institutions.

According to the Ministry, the use of digital verification has strengthened transparency and accountability in programme implementation.

Beneficiaries can access the official PM-KISAN portal to check their registration details, payment information and eligibility status.

Farmers whose payments have been withheld because of incomplete verification or unresolved eligibility issues are advised to review their records through the official portal and complete the required procedures.

Financial Assistance Supports Agricultural Investments

The financial assistance provided through PM-KISAN is intended to support farmers in meeting recurring agricultural expenses.

Farmers frequently require working capital to purchase seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other cultivation inputs.

Additional expenses may arise from irrigation, equipment maintenance, transportation and seasonal agricultural labour.

For small farming households, the timing of these expenditures can create financial pressures, particularly when income is concentrated around harvesting periods.

Regular instalments provide a predictable source of supplementary assistance that can contribute towards meeting these requirements.

The government has stated that the programme helps strengthen agricultural investment and reduce reliance on informal borrowing.

However, the actual impact of the assistance on farm productivity, indebtedness and household income depends on several factors, including landholding size, crop choices, input costs and local agricultural conditions.

PM-KISAN therefore operates as an income support mechanism rather than a replacement for agricultural credit, irrigation infrastructure, crop insurance or other development programmes.

Agricultural Infrastructure and Horticulture Initiatives Announced

The release of the 24th PM-KISAN instalment was accompanied by announcements concerning agricultural infrastructure and horticulture development.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced the dedication of 521 units developed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

These facilities are intended to strengthen agricultural storage, processing and associated infrastructure.

Improved post-harvest infrastructure can help farmers access better storage facilities, reduce avoidable agricultural losses and strengthen connections between agricultural production and markets.

The government also announced the inauguration of 12 horticulture clusters intended to encourage the cultivation and commercial development of high-value horticultural crops.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the approved horticulture clusters cover approximately 1.46 lakh hectares and are expected to benefit more than 1.3 lakh farmers.

Two of the clusters in North Gujarat will focus on potato cultivation.

The initiatives are intended to support agricultural diversification, improve value-chain infrastructure and create additional opportunities for farmers participating in horticultural production.

Agriculture Minister Participates in Madhya Pradesh Programme

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in a programme at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, organised in connection with the release of the 24th instalment.

The programme highlighted the importance of financial assistance and agricultural development initiatives for farming communities.

The Ministry stated that the government is implementing several programmes intended to strengthen agricultural livelihoods, improve access to credit and encourage modern agricultural practices.

These initiatives include PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Kisan Credit Card facilities and programmes promoting improved irrigation efficiency.

While these schemes have different objectives, they form part of the broader agricultural policy framework addressing income support, production risks, credit access and farm infrastructure.

Importance of Direct Income Support for Indian Agriculture

Agriculture remains an important source of employment and livelihood across India, supporting a substantial proportion of the country’s rural population.

The financial requirements of farming households vary according to landholding size, crop patterns, irrigation availability, input prices and local market conditions.

Small and marginal farmers can face particular challenges in meeting cultivation expenses and managing uncertain agricultural income.

Direct income assistance provides one form of support by supplementing household resources without requiring farmers to undertake a specific purchase.

The PM-KISAN programme also demonstrates the increasing use of digital public infrastructure for the implementation of nationwide welfare schemes.

Its delivery mechanism combines beneficiary records, bank account verification and electronic transfers to distribute assistance across states and Union Territories.

At the same time, long-term improvements in agricultural income depend on productivity growth, market access, irrigation, storage, crop diversification and the ability of farmers to obtain remunerative prices.

The programme therefore functions alongside other agricultural development measures rather than independently addressing every challenge affecting farming households.

Strengthening Agricultural Income Security Through 2030–31

The release of more than ₹18,690 crore under the 24th instalment represents another major disbursement of direct financial assistance to India’s farming community.

With approximately 9.34 crore farmers covered and cumulative transfers exceeding ₹4.64 lakh crore, PM-KISAN continues to operate on a substantial national scale.

The approved continuation until 2030–31, supported by a financial outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore, provides a longer-term basis for the programme’s implementation.

The parallel development of agricultural infrastructure, horticulture clusters and digital beneficiary verification reflects the government’s efforts to combine direct financial assistance with broader agricultural development initiatives.

For eligible farming households, the programme provides recurring financial support that can contribute to agricultural expenses and household financial stability.

---

References

1. Press Information Bureau — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Publication date: 30 October 2026

Official backgrounder: 24th Instalment of PM-KISAN — Direct Benefit Transfer of Over ₹18,690 Crore to 9.34 Crore Farmers.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?ModuleId=3&NoteId=160645&lang=2&reg=48

2. Press Information Bureau — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Publication date: 29 October 2026

Official announcement: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Release 24th Instalment of PM-KISAN at Banaskantha, Gujarat.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2330171

3. Press Information Bureau — Prime Minister’s Office

Publication date: 29 October 2026

Official announcement: PM to Visit Gujarat on 30–31 October.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2329999

4. PM-KISAN — Government of India

Official programme portal: Registration, e-KYC, beneficiary status and scheme information.

https://pmkisan.gov.in

5. Press Information Bureau — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Publication date: 20 June 2026

Official backgrounder: 23rd Instalment of PM-KISAN.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2275744

---